LIVING STONIA — BLANTYRE— QUILLIMANE. 439 
with folds of white calico, gave a curiously picturesque 
appearance to the chainlike column, as it entered the 
long gravelled streets of Mandala, where the slight 
stream of sparkling water played, and an avenue of the 
eucalyptus waved gently in the morning wind. The 
leaves danced beneath our feet, and borne by the breeze 
floated upward as we stopped to salute the British flag 
Hying proudly over the mission station in the highlands 
of Blantyre. 
Passing down the street we saw that the ground was 
enriched by fragrant dowers, in lovely bloom, which 
wreathed the heart-shaped borders of the nursery beds, 
whose smiling verdure and radiant tints contrasted 
pleasantly with the bright red brick houses that lined 
the street. 
Still further we descended, sheltered by the cool 
foliage of red and blue gums. On our right a held ot 
young coffee trees, ranged in lines, were budding and 
bursting into blossom, shaking from their pearl-like 
petals the silver dewdrops of early day. 
We crossed the Mudi mountain torrent, hidden 
beneath dark evergreen leaves of giant fig-trees ( Mkuyu ), 
and thus passed from Christianity to Commerce, the 
creek dividing the mission station from the quarters ot 
the African Lakes Company consisting of the store and 
the manager’s house. 
Ascending the steep hill leading to the trading station 
we passed the gateway in the loopholed stockade of 
Mlomba trees, covered with creepers of impenetrable 
thorn, and arrived at the porch of the spacious dwelling 
of the white chief Mandala, the name given by the 
natives to Air. John Aloir, the Company’s manager. 
Descriptions of Blantyre and its surroundings have 
been printed so often that it is quite unnecessary for me 
to add to those which have already appeared. I must 
confine my words to a narration of our travels oifward 
to the sea. 
Air. and Airs. Aloir gave us a very hearty welcome, 
and we soon found enchantment in the civilised sur¬ 
roundings of our comfortable quarters. The sight of 
